Roller-boxing.



N0. 667,3). Patehted Feb. 5,1901. 8. GEORGE.

ROLLER Boxlue.

(Application filed June 29, 1898; Renewed July 31, 1900.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT EEIGE.

SEYMOUR GEORGE, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOCHARLES FRANCIS HARRIS, OF SAME PLACE.

ROLLER-BOXING;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 667,310, dated February5, 190i.

Application filed June 29,1898. Renewed July 31} 1900; Serial No. 25,455(No model.)

To aZl whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, SEYMOUR GEORGE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inRoller-Boxings; and

I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inmechanical devices for use in connection with a shaft or shafts toprevent as much as possible wear in the bearings, and thus avoid lostmotion.

The roller boxing or bearing hereinafter described is adapted for use inconnection with a shaft or shafts of any and all kinds of engines,pumps, or other machinery; but I have chosen to show my improvement inthis instance as applied to two parallel shafts of a rotary enginewithout, however, restricting myself to its use in such relation.

In the preferable form of my invention (that herein illustrated) Ihangtwo rollers on parallel shafts in one box, said roller-shafts being onparallel lines with the main shaft and the center lines of saidroller-shafts being on horizontal lines with the center line of the mainshaft, and that side of the main shaft next to the first roller reststightly against the same, the object being to prevent spreading of themain shaft to the right or left, as the case may be, and thus overcomefriction in that direction, and another set of rollers and shaftssimilar to the ones just mentioned are hung in the same boxing, butplaced underneath or below the main shaft, the latter resting on thefirst roller. Thus the 0 main shaft is supported vertically by the firstroller hung in the said boxing below the main shaft. The shafts of therollers are made, preferably, of the same diameter as the main shaft,and the periphery of each of the first 5 rollers rests against theperiphery of the main shaft, and the periphery of the shaft of the firstroller rests against the periphery of the second roller, each rollerbeing substantially twice the diameter of the main shaft and of its ownshaft. Hence the main shaft will make four revolutions or turns to oneof the second roller. Thus the friction from velocity or side pressurewill be four times less on the shaft of the second rollerthan thatof themain shaft. Thus if the main shaft makes, say, five hundred revolutionsa minute the sec-' ond roller will turn one hundred and twentyfivetimes, and as the main shaft will roll, not slide, on the two firstrollers all friction from rubbing or sliding will be removed from themain shaft, and in like manner as the first roller-shaf ts roll on thesecond rollers the same result follows on these shafts. Hence thefriction on the main shaft is transmitted to a third shaftthat is, thesecond rollershaft and its boxingswhich third shaft, as beforedescribed, revolves one-fou rth as many times per minute as the mainshaft. Therefore all wear horizontally from side pressure or spreadingof the main shaft and also all wear 7o vertically from the weight of themain shaft will be transferred to the third shaft, and therefore alllost motion from wear on the bearings and in the boxings of the third orsecond roller-shaft can be readily taken up at will, and thus preventthe main shaft from getting out of line with its casing. The meansemployed for taking up the lost motion comprises a series of screwspassing through a tail-block, part of the screws hav- 8o ing the saidtail-block for their nut and the others having the boxing-cap for theirnut, the one set being hung on swivels or pivots in the tail-block andthe other set likewise connected with the cap of the boxing. The innerends of the screws hung in the tailblock rest solidly against the faceof the boxing of the second roller, the screws being geared together bygears on their ends outside the tail-block, with an additional or driv-9o ing gear geared into four of the gears of the screws, by turningwhich all of the screws turn simultaneously, one set moving the cap ofthe second roller-boxing backward or forward and the other set turningat the same time in the opposite direction to permit the cap to move oneway or the other. The oneset of screws whose inner ends rest against theface of the boxing provide the base against which to tighten up theboxing-cap against the shaft, and the other set of screws afford themeans for tightening the same, while by turning the driving-gear thelost motion in the second roller-boxing can be taken up instantly, andthus by means of this adjustment and the adjustable boxing the mainshafts-say in a rotary motor having two parallel shafts-may be kept inperfect line with their casings, and so prevent all wear in the.

internal mechanism of the motor, so that when made steam-tight they everwill remain so, provided the boxing on the second rollershaft is keptneatly adjusted. Hence no packing will be required. In fact, packingwould cause wear. Hence packing is only shifting instead of removing anevil.

The screws of the boxing beneath the main shaft may be actuated in anysuitable wayin this instance shown as operated through the medium ofbevel-gears, as being the most practicable; but it will be understoodthat other means may be provided forthis purpose.

Other objects and-ad vantages of the invention will hereinafter appear,and the novel features thereof will be specifically defined by theappended claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings,which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of thisspecification, and in which Figure l is a view, partly in top plan andpartly in section, showing the application of my invention to the shaftsof a rotary motor or engine, the section on the right being taken on theline B R of, Fig. 3' and the section on the left being taken on the lineL L of said Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is an end elevation with the shaft of thedriving-gear and also the shaft of the operating means for the lowerbearing shown in section. on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the severalviews.

Itwill be understood from reference to Fig. 1 that two sets of boxingsor bearings are provided in connection with a motor having two parallelshafts, one for each shaft; but as the construction and operation of thetwo are idenlical a description of the one will suffice.

Referring then to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates aportion of the cylinder or casing of a rotary motor, which may he, say,like that described and shown in my application filed March 5, 1896,Serial No. 581,977, or any other style.

B and O are the parallel shafts of the motor, and D and E the gears onsaid shafts, intermeshing, as shown, to insure perfect uniform rotation.

F is the boxing or housing, in the side walls of which, as seen in Fig.1 at the right, are the passages for the main shaft 0 and between whichside walls are arranged the roll- Fig. 3 is a vertical section ers andthe tail-block, which will now be described in detail.

G is the first roller-shaft. It is supported in the side walls of theboxing, as seen best in Fig. 1, in horizontal line with the main shaft0, while H represents the first vertical roller-shaft, likewisesupported in the side walls of the boxing in vertical line with the mainshaft 0, as seen best in Fig. 3. On the shaft G are the rollers Gr,'more or less in number, as may be found most expedient. These rollersrevolve in contact with the main shaft, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3,while upon the shaft H are the rollers H, which also revolve in contactwith the said main shaft, as indicated best in Fig. 3.

I is the second roller-shaft, mounted in horizontal line with the shaftsG and Gr, as shown in Figs. 1 and. 3, and upon this shaft are therollers I, the said rollers being so proportioned with relation to thesize of the shafts that the rollers G revolve in contact with theshaft'G and the rollers I revolve in contact with the shaft G, as seenin Fig. 1 and as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3, the rollers on thetwo shafts being disposed, as shown, so that the rollers on'the oneshaft will be disposed between the rollers on the other shaft, as willbe readily understood.

J is the second vertical shaft, supported in the boxing'in vertical linewith the shafts C and H, as seen best in Fig. 3, and upon this shaft arethe rollers J, the disposition of the rollers on the vertical shaftsbeing the same as that of those on the horizontal shafts, so that therollers on the first shaft revolve in contact with the main shaft andwith the second shaft, and'the rollers on the latter shaft revolve incontact with the shaft of the first rollers, as indicated in Fig. 3.

The shafts of these rollers are geared together and with the main shaft,so that the said rollers will be positively revolved under allcircumstances. In Fig. 1 at the right I have shown these shafts as sogeared, the letter a designating the gear on the main shaft 0, whichmeshes with a gear g on the shaft G, and on this latter shaft is anothergear g, which meshes with the gear 71 on the shaft 1, the gear 0 alsobeing designed to impart motion to the two vertical shafts H and J inlike manner. The gears of the latter shafts are not illustrated; but itis believed that their disposition, being similar to those on thehorizontal shafts, will be readily understood.

The means for taking up the lost motion in the second roller-shaft willnow be described. As the means employed for the horizontal and verticalshafts is the same, except as to the means for actuating the drivinggearthereof, a description of the one only is necessary for a full and clearunderstanding of the same. Referring, then, to the various views, Kdesignates the end plate or cap to the boxing, and K the tail-block. Inthe present instance I have shown eight screws as being employed in thisconnection; but it is evident that this number may be varied, madeeither more or less, as may be found most expedient,withou t materiallyaffecting the result, and I therefore do not intend to restrict myselfto the number of the screws employed. These screws are in sets of foureach, one set being so arranged as to have their nut in the tail-blockand the other four having their nut in the cap to the boxing. In Fig. 2is seen in end elevation all eight of the screws and their gears, whichlatter will be more particularly hereinafter referred to. By the gearingshown four of these screws are made to turn simultaneously in onedirection, and the other four at the same time move simultaneously inthe opposite direction. The direction of movement of the various screwsis indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2. The four screws L are pivoted orswiveled in the tailblock K, as seen at is, while their ends arethreaded into the cap K, as seen best in Fig.

3, and bear against the wall of the housing, as seen in said Fig. 3,while the other four screws M are swiveled or pivoted in the cap K, asseen at m, andhave their outer ends threaded into the tail-block K. Onthe outer end of each screw is a gear N, as seen best in Fig. 2, thethree gears at the top meshing with each other and the three gears atthe bottom meshing with each other, as seen clearly in said Fig. 2. Theintermediate gears on the horizontal shafts in horizontal line with thecentral gear do not mesh with each other nor with the top and bottomgears; but these gears mesh with the driving-gear O, which is fast upona stub-shaft P, which is'supported upon the outer face of the tail-blockor fixed part of the housing, as shown, and this driving-gear mesheswith the central gears at the top and bottom and the two sides, asindicated in Fig. 2. This central or driving gear is somewhat wider thanthe other gears, as indicated best in Fig. 3, so that it may be at alltimes in mesh with the other gears regardless .of the adjustment of thecap to the boxing,

as will be readily understood. It will be understood that the gear 0 isrevolubly mounted on its shaft and should be provided with some meanswhereby it can be turned to adjust the screws. I have shown it in thisinstance as provided with a knob or handwheel 19.

The screws and gears for the vertical bearing or boxing are the same inconstruction and operation as those just described in connection withthe horizontal hearing or boxing, and further description thereoftherefore seems unnecessary. For convenience of operation, however, theshaft carrying the driving-gear is provided with a bevel-gear Q, whichmeshes with a bevel-gear Q on a horizontal shaft R, supported in asuitable hearing q, as seen in Figs. 2 and 3, and is extended andprovided with a suitable device, as a handwheel g, by means'of which thedriving-gear and the screws may be operated. It is evident, however,that where there is sufficient space the driving-gear of the screws ofthe vertical boxing may be operated the same as that of the horizontalbearing, or any other desired means may be substituted for that hereinshown.

The operation will be apparent, and the advantages will be readilyappreciated. The bearing of the main shaftis entirely upon the rollers,and consequently there is no rubbing of the shaft. When it becomesnecessary to take up the lost motion or to compensate for wear, which,however, will be very seldom, all that it is necessary to do is to turnthe wheel 19 or the wheel q, as the case may be, and as this is donemotion is imparted to the driving-gear, which in turn imparts motionsimultaneously to all of the screws, and as the latter are turned theone set of four will revolve in one direction and the other set in theopposite; but the two sets being oppositely arranged, as described, thecap will be moved in the one direction or the other according to thedirection of movement given the driving-gear, and by reason of thedisposition of the various screws, as shown, the cap must be kept inperfect alinement with the shaft of the second roller, as will beclearly understood, and hence the same can be kept properly adjusted andthe main shaft kept in proper alinement, the vertical and horizontalboxings compensating for vertical and horizontal pressure.

The size of the rollers and their shafts may be varied as circumstancesmay require, and other modifications in the details of construction maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention orsacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A double roller-boxing for a shaft, the same comprising rollers forVertical and horizontal pressure geared together and to said shaft andmeans for independently adjusting the same, as set forth.

2. An adjustable double roller-boxing for shafting and gearingconnecting its shafts, substantially as specified.

The combination with a main shaft, of horizontal shafts carryingrollers, with the rollers of the intermediate shaft revolving in contactwith said main shaft and with the shaft of the adjacent rollers andgearing by which all of said shafts are geared together, substantiallyas specified.

4. The combination'with a shaft, of shafts in line therewith andcarrying rollers with the rollers on one shaft engaging the shaft of theother rollers, and means for adjusting the bearing of the last shaft ofthe series and gearing directly gearing all of said shafts together, asshown and described.

adjacent the main shaft revolving in contact therewith and the rollersof the other shafts revolving in contact with the shafts of the nextadjacent rollers, and means for adj ustment of the bearing of the lastof the series of rollers, as and for the purpose specified.

7. A roller-bearing comprising shafts parallel with each other andcarrying rollers with the rollers of the one shaft mounted to revolve incontact with the shaft next .adjacent, gearing connecting all of saidshafts and means for adjusting the bearing of the last shaft of theseries to take up lost motion, substantially as specified.

8. The combination with a shaft, of shafts parallel therewith and gearedthereto and to each other, and rollers on said shafts with theperipheries of the rollers on one shaft revolving in contact with thenext adjacent shaft, substantially as specified.

9. The combination with a shaft, of shafts parallel therewith and gearedto move in unison therewith, rollers on said shafts with the rollers onthe shaft next adjacent to the main shaft revolvingin contact therewithand the rollers on the next shaft revolving in contact with its adjacentshaft, and means for taking up the lost motion of the lastmentionedshaft, substantially as specified.

10. The combination of two parallel shafts, with roller-boxings for saidshafts one set disposed in vertical alinement with one of said shaftsand the other in horizontal alinement with the other shaft having meansfor preventing spreading of said shafts and for compensating for wearfrom vertical and horizontal pressure, substantially as specified.

11. The combination with the shafts and their rollers arranged asdescribed, of an ad justable cap and a series of screws a portion ofwhich are threaded into said cap and the others swiveled therein formoving the said cap all mounted to be moved in unison, as and for thepurpose set forth.

12. The combination with the shafts and their rollers arranged asdescribed, of a movable cap for the last shaft of the series, a seriesof screws for moving said cap and gears on said screws and adriving-gear meshing therewith whereby all the screws are moved inunison, as set forth.

13. The combination with the shafts and their rollers arranged asdescribed, of a movable cap, a series of screws for moving the saidcap,part of the said screws being threaded in the cap and a part beingthreaded in a fixed part of the housing, and means whereby all of thescrews are moved simultaneously, the one setin one direction and theother set in the opposite direction, substantially as and for thepurpose specified.

14. The combination of a plurality of shafts, rollers on the shafts, anda movable cap, with two sets of screws the one set being threaded in thecap and swiveled in a fixed part of the housing, and the other set beingthreaded in the fixed part of the housing and swiveled in the cap, andmeans for actuating all of said screws simultaneously, as and for thepurpose specified.

15. The combination with the movable cap and the screws for actuatingthe same, of gears on the outer ends of the screws, with the gears ofthe three upper screws meshing with each other and the gears of thethree lowermost screws meshing with each other, a driving-gear meshingwith the central gears only of the said screws, whereby one set ofscrews will be turned in one direction and the other set in the oppositedirection, and means for actuating the driving-gear, substantially asspecified.

16. The combination with a movable cap, of screws for moving the sameand means for operating the screws, part in one direction and partsimultaneously in the opposite direction, substantially as specified.

17. The combination with two parallel shafts, of compound roller-boxingsfor said shafts, said boxings having one set of rollers revolving incontact with said shafts, and another set of rollers revolving incontact with the shafts of the first set of rollers and forming thebearings thereof, whereby friction is transferred from the main shaftsto the shafts of the last-mentioned rollers, and adjusting devices forsaid last-mentioned shafts whereby lost motion from wear of the bearingsmay be taken up and spreading of the shafts prevented, as set forth.

18. The combination with two parallel shafts, of compound roller-boxingsfor said shafts, said boxings having one set of rollers revolving incontact with said main shafts on horizontal alinement and another setrevolving in contact with the main shafts in vertical alinement andforming the bearings of said main shafts, and another set of rollers inhorizontal alinement and another set in vertical alinement, each of saidrollers revolving in contact with the shafts of the first rollers andforming their bearings, the said first rollers revolving at a lower rateof speed than the main shafts and the second rollers revolving at alower rate of speed than the first rollers, the shafts of the rollersbeing geared together and with the main shafts to insure positiverotation thereof, and adjusting devices for the shafts of the outerrollers of the series for taking up the lost motion from wear of thebearings of the outer shafts resulting from swiveled in the cap, andgearing for simul- IO taneously turning said screws, substantially asand for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SEYMOUR GEORGE.

Witnesses:

WM. L. FORD, E. H. BOND.

